Six Cities of Refuge
January 27, 2020
Commentary
The Lord had instructed Moses to set aside six cities as sanctuaries in the land of Canaan (Numbers 35:6). They were situated in such a way as to be readily accessible. Highways leading to them were kept in good repair and the crossroads were well marked with signposts reading “Refuge! Refuge!” These six “cities of refuge” were needed because society in that day had no police force to investigate crimes. Joshua set apart three cities of refuge on each side of the Jordan River (vv. 7-8). In the ancient world, blood revenge was widely practiced. When a person was killed, his nearest relative took responsibility for vengeance. When a person accidentally killed someone else he could flee to the nearest city of refugewhere he would be protected from his avenger until his trial could be held (vv. 4-5). Upon his acquittal and the death of the high priest then in office, he could return in safety to his own town.
We need to keep in mind that a clear distinction is made in the Old Testament between premeditated murder and accidental manslaughter (Num. 35:11-16). These cities of refuge were only a refuge for those who had killed someone accidentally. Arriving at the gate of a city of refuge, the manslayer had to present his case to the elders of the city (Deut. 21:19; 22:15) who would make a provisional decision before he would be granted asylum. Then later he would stand trial, preferably before representatives of the community nearest the scene of the killing. To be near the city of refuge would not protect you from the avenger. You had to be within the city of refuge to be protected. This is true of a person today when it comes to salvation. If we believe in Christ, He is our refuge, and we are in Him. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). To be in a good church, or a certain family, or a particular denomination is not good enough. We must be in Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).
Application
“God is our (my) refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1).
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psa. 91:2).
Joshua 20:1– 9 (NET)
1 The Lord instructed Joshua: 2 “Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses. 3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 4 The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there. 5 When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation. 6 He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly, and the high priest dies. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.”
7 So they selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the wilderness on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.